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Today's Poll: Should the U.S. attack North Korea to stop it's nuclear missile program?

By Howard B. Owens
Tim Miller

Everybody who voted "yes" - I expect to see you down at the armed forces recruitment office first thing tomorrow morning. I don't care if you have already served (and I do thank you for that service you have already given to our country)... you vote for war, YOU fight.

Dec 4, 2017, 2:42pm Permalink
Lisa Woltz

In my opinion:
The millions of lives in NK Howard? Look at the regime they are living in now. Hitler man child reincarnated, who won't allow anyone to communicate with the outside world, shoots and kills anyone who leaves "his kingdom", feeds himself and feeds his "soldiers" garbage or food they pray they don't get caught stealing, forcing them- under duress- to stay or he will kill their entire family, forces those who hate him to praise him like he's a god? These people are Kim's orders to face death one way or another. We can't save them. We can't stand by and allow Little Hitler to keep building nuclear weapons and one day complete his mission to destroy America either. It's the case of them or us. I've been raised in a family with military soldiers and I do know what their choice would be. They chose to proudly serve and would give their life to protect our country. Their sons, wives and daughter are doing the same also. My choice is blatantly clear. It's America, first and foremost.
As far as war. There won't be a war. After the smoke clears, there won't be anything left.

Dec 5, 2017, 12:42pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

As for the people in North Korea, I find it rather callous to decide it's OK to kill them in a war because their lives are screwed already. Who are you to decide their fate? Who is Turmp, for that matter, to decide their fate?

That's a horrible calculation.

But beyond that, even if one decides that's the horror that must be born to prevent an attack on our own shores, the issue is much bigger.

Seoul is nearly 10 million people within 35 minutes of the border. The North Koreans have a massive conventional weapons arsenal lined up to rain down terror on Seoul and there's nothing we could do about it. Millions of innocent people would die in the first hours of any war with North Korea.

Toyko, with another nine million residents, is also easily reachable by North Korea's conventional weapons.

And we really don't know that if Kim found it necessary, could he launch even just one nuclear-capable missile on a moments notice. The North Koreans could already be capable of doing that even if it's only a 50/50 proposition of successfully reaching its target. A target that would likely be a major city in the United States.

Any pre-emptive attack by the U.S. unleashes these possible scenarios. Any counterattack by the U.S. unleashes these pre-emptive scenarios. If you believe Kim is crazy enough to arbitrarily lobe a nuclear-tipped missile at the U.S., then you must also believe he's crazy enough to unleash the full might of his military on his neighbors under the theory that if he's going down, he's taking as many people with him as he can.

And, yes, then there is the lives of our own military. First, in modern warfare, loss of our own personnel is minimal, unless there's a ground war, and even then, we've gotten very good at minimizing our losses. That said, I'm a veteran. Three of my brothers are veterans. Nobody signs up to die. That's insane. We sign up to protect and serve knowing it's a potentially dangerous decision. Nobody wants to die. And we shouldn't lightly put our men and women in the military in harm's way.

Dec 5, 2017, 1:08pm Permalink
Lisa Woltz

As I stated, it is My opinion and I'm not God. Name calling shouldn't be thrown in either. I'm well aware of these scenarios and I see the countries which have uttered their support. South Korea is on alert and awake filled with updated artillery. I'm well aware of the demographic situation. I'm not an expert, Howard and I've not made myself out to be. This country has been a doormat and bowed down to NK and Iran when it comes to nukes. You are well aware of this. You and I may not agree with what President Trump says or does, but this is what freedom of speech and the right to say something without feeling like we have to suppress it in fear.

Dec 6, 2017, 10:58am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

There's no name calling in my comment.

I disagree with the assertion that we've been a doormat to either North Korea or Iran. The truth is, these are complicated geopolitical issues with no easy answer. Saying we were or are a doormat ignores reality.

Dec 6, 2017, 11:31am Permalink
Lisa Woltz

Well.
Doormat with Iran-
The US has handed out $1.7 billion in cash (secretly) why? Obama knows. He made sure it happened when the prisoners were released. Sounds like a ransom or doormat to get what they want $400+ million more.
We've also paid Approx. $150 million.
Let's not forget, they refuse to let anyone inspect their facilities.

North Korea doormat- For decades we've given the country money, aid and in return what have we gotten? Threats and extortion. Little Kim is demanding $500 million in order to stop his "blackmail". In other words, pay up or I kill or don't pay up or I kill.
His prison camps are in between 80- 120,000 million people and it's well documented by the Canadian papers.

As we live and breathe in this world of reality, "Little Hitler" (note the picture of the Camp 15) will kill either way. You asked a question. I gave my opinion. I gave answers to the reality from the real world. Remember, Canadians don't like Trump that much. For once, they agreed with him?

https://globalnews.ca/news/3763158/north-korea-starvation-executions-po…

Dec 6, 2017, 11:07pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

"The US has handed out $1.7 billion in cash (secretly) why?"

There was nothing secret about this -- it was a legal obligation/settlement the U.S. agreed to long before Obama was president.

As for the assertion about North Korea, not entirely accurate. As always, its more complicated and hardly fits the definition of "doormat."

http://www.newsweek.com/did-us-really-pay-north-korea-extortion-money-2…

Nobody is arguing that Kim is a good guy. But there are no simple solutions. That's a realistic assessment of the world.

Dec 7, 2017, 10:08am Permalink

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